BORACAY – Business owners were advised against dealing with “fixers” in processing government requirements.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources learned that some business owners were made to pay thousands of pesos for an instant release of their clearance.
“May nag-iikot na mga tao dati na nagpapakilala na taga-DENR,” said Atty. Richard Fabila, chief of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office here.
These “impostors,” the agency said, charge business owners between P30,000 to P60,000 with the promise that their DENR clearance will be released quickly.
“Dapat ang mga owners na mismo ang mag-asikaso para maintidihan nila ang mga proseso,” Fabila said.
Business owners or their authorized representatives were encouraged to personally process their certifications, business permits and clearances at the “one-stop shop” in CityMall.
The one-stop shop will operate until Sept. 15 after business groups appealed to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to extend its operation.
“Ang mga may-ari ay hindi na dapat gumastos ng malaki dahil dito naman sa isla ang ating mga ahensiya at hindi kailangang bumiyahe sa Iloilo,” said Fabila. “Pumunta kayo at mag-inquire sa proseso at mga kailangang gawin sa mga permits ninyo.”
Business owners must pay P140 for the issuance of certificates on alienable and disposable land status required for the processing of building permits and environmental compliance certificates, or ECC.
Clearances for compliance with the 25+5 setback and easement are issued by the DENR free of charge, Fabila said.
Three months ago some individuals reportedly tried to extort money from business owners with the promise that their establishments will be removed from the list of violators of environmental laws.
The government has been cleaning up the island resort since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its six-month temporary closure starting April 26.
The cleanup – led by agencies under the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force – aims to resolve environmental problems and improve infrastructure facilities for tourists and residents./PN
